Farmers from RS announce protests

Protection of domestic production and fairer distribution of incentive funds – these are the two main demands insisted upon by agricultural producers in RS. If there is no understanding from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of RS, they announce new protests. 

Agricultural producers criticize the attitude of institutions towards the protection of domestic production. Low prices of calves, pigs, fruits and vegetables are just some of the problems they face. 

"We lose 500 KM every day on our farm. We simply won't be able to sustain it. Institutions can no longer claim that domestic production cannot be protected if there is no excessive import, because it is clearly defined in the agreement and the law that there are other conditions that endanger domestic production. Among these other conditions, the price is the primary one. No one can raise pigs for 1.6 KM, or calves for 3.5 KM. We simply cannot produce anymore, we will kill the soul of the village,“ says the vice-president of the Association of Agricultural Producers of RS, Ranko Sarajlić. 

The Rulebook on the conditions and method of obtaining monetary incentives for the development of agriculture and villages has once again angered farmers.

Funds within the agricultural budget, which amounts to 75 million marks, must be distributed fairly. Incentives intended for primary production must not go to the processing industry and rural development. They suspect abuse of blue diesel and the number of dairies receiving incentives. They demand harmonization of the rulebook with the one in FBiH.